[Patty55]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

If you go to the Bonita Dog Park you will see why very few people go there who have small dogs. Think of a very small stretch of that winding street in San Francisco (Lombard Street) without the pavement but with grass and a lot of dog poop. Very hard to watch your dog while not falling over into dog poop.
Lombard Street Picture

IMO, that is so not true. We didn't go over the summer because it was too hot, but you have a nice group of people there and a nice group of dogs. People do pick up after their dogs. Mine always takes off for what I call "the jungle" on top of the hill, and she does do her thing up there.

Y'know, sometimes you have to cut people a little slack, when I'm in the jungle I pick up mine and what else I see. Who knows, maybe some of the older people can't.

There are lots of small dogs there, not so many large, but hey that's TV, not as many large dogs.

[rickandtammy27]

I think we do have a lot of nice, well thought out, beautiful things to enjoy here in The Villages. However, I am not against trying to make things a little nicer. If the developer did have some land that could be allocated to build a new, bigger dog park, one that you could actually throw a frisbee or ball and your dog would be able to run a little ways to catch it And what if it was big enough to have a swimming pool for the swimmers in the group, I would be willing to coordinate a group of volunteers to keep it cleaned and maintained. If enough dog lovers want to make the community a little nicer for everyone, I am sure it could be done. Since the survey doesn't get the attention of the developer. What about a signed petition and if it was signed by many, many Villagers, that want a bigger, nicer dog park, where would we send the petition? If we have enough people that really want this, let us at least try. I am willing to coordinate this effort. I wish I had a lot of money, I would buy a piece of land and start a new dog park.

[ilovetv]

A dog park takes land. And so do golf driving ranges and lots of other facilities residents would like to have more of.

Several times a year there are threads here where residents beg for more gym/exercise facilities, an indoor pool(s), a gas station near Lake Sumter Landing, a Costco Store, a Trader Joe's.....many things that require land.

I think it is up to an individual or group to buy a few acres of pasture just outside the borders of TV, to build a dog park and run it and keep it clean and grassy.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Yes, DDRR is privately owned, but I think somehow it is accessible by golf cart for some in the north. Can anyone of you DDRR users verify that?

We pay $ to take our dog to an indoor day care center to blow off some steam. I would definitely use a grassy dog park closer to home, even if it cost $. Right now we're chuckering the tennis ball for him across our tiny backyard when it gets afternoon shade.

We've probably had 17 cats in our lives. One lived to be 20 (still miss him, and he died in 1990). I would have one or two now, for Crosby looooves cats, but we have a bird. Been there, done that, and... well, never mind.

No legal access to DDRR for non-street legal golf carts. I have seen golf carts take a shortcut through one of the golf courses when a certain gate is open. But the driver had even said that he was worried about someone locking that gate and him getting trapped on the wrong side.

Street legal golf carts can get there via CR101 or through a back route to the Jewish Temple on CR101 which is about 1/2 to 3/4s of a mile north of the dog park.

[beartrack]

What actually is the purpose of a dog park ? I have a dog, I have always had a dog. Do you take a dog to a park for the purpose of pooping, or do you walk your dog first, and then go to the park. Do you go to the park to throw your frisbee ? How do you stop twenty other dogs from chasing it as well ? I have found many places here in TV to play catch with my dog or frisbee or whatever. We disturb no one, when we leave, the place is just as clean as we found it. I have tried dog parks, even my dog doesn't like them. So many folks there want to socialize I don't have any time for my pooch. I also find that if my dog and I do not wish to join the party, we are whispered about as being anti-social.

I have a normal small property with a front yard and a small back yard. No electric fences or other barriers but, we manage to get her business done on our own property and then go for a walk. Once again we disturb no one.

Now, if you still think that you need a dog park, I suggest that you check with the folks that put together The Mulberry dog park. They formed a committee led by one very energetic woman and convinced the powers that be to donate the land and put aside enough money to build the park. In return those folks maintain the park and act as stewards to see to it that everyone obeys the rules. This is only one of the reasons that this is such a great place to live. If folks stop complaining about an issue that is important to them and roll up their collective sleeves and go to work, it has been my experience that The Villages will be more than happy to work with you. The Mulberry dog park is a perfect example of what I am talking about. TV is so happy about the way the park is being cared for, they added landscaping and an irrigation system to keep the park beautiful. Folks have donated bench's and tree's. while my pup and I do not use the park we sometimes ride up to watch all the fun inside. All things are possible in this wonderful place.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by beartrack

What actually is the purpose of a dog park ? I have a dog, I have always had a dog. Do you take a dog to a park for the purpose of pooping, or do you walk your dog first, and then go to the park. Do you go to the park to throw your frisbee ? How do you stop twenty other dogs from chasing it as well ? I have found many places here in TV to play catch with my dog or frisbee or whatever. We disturb no one, when we leave, the place is just as clean as we found it. I have tried dog parks, even my dog doesn't like them. So many folks there want to socialize I don't have any time for my pooch. I also find that if my dog and I do not wish to join the party, we are whispered about as being anti-social.

I have a normal small property with a front yard and a small back yard. No electric fences or other barriers but, we manage to get her business done on our own property and then go for a walk. Once again we disturb no one.

Now, if you still think that you need a dog park, I suggest that you check with the folks that put together The Mulberry dog park. They formed a committee led by one very energetic woman and convinced the powers that be to donate the land and put aside enough money to build the park. In return those folks maintain the park and act as stewards to see to it that everyone obeys the rules. This is only one of the reasons that this is such a great place to live. If folks stop complaining about an issue that is important to them and roll up their collective sleeves and go to work, it has been my experience that The Villages will be more than happy to work with you. The Mulberry dog park is a perfect example of what I am talking about. TV is so happy about the way the park is being cared for, they added landscaping and an irrigation system to keep the park beautiful. Folks have donated bench's and tree's. while my pup and I do not use the park we sometimes ride up to watch all the fun inside. All things are possible in this wonderful place.

Go to a 10 acre or so dog park to see what I real dog park should look like. There are a number of good sized dog parks near the Villages.

Mulberry dog park is very small when compared with Doggie Doo Run Run or the other dog parks in Inverness, Ocala, Leesburg, and Gainesville.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by rickandtammy27

I am willing to coordinate this effort. I wish I had a lot of money, I would buy a piece of land and start a new dog park.

I suggest you start by contacting the "Responsible Dog Owners Club". I believe they were the organizing force behind the Mulberry and Bonita dog parks.

I'm currently in Canada, but I'll be arriving soon and staying for six months. I'd be delighted to work with you on this project.

[Patty55]

My dog doesn't need 10 acres, hell I had 4 horses on a lot less.

We go to the dog park just to get her out of the house. She's a "top peer" so the park by the firehouse is enough to keep her busy.

Prior to living here we never went to a dog park, they rarely walked on a leash, she doesn't get the concept of catch or frisbee. If I throw a ball she just looks at me like "What is your point".

If there was no dog park she'd be fine, we'd find something else to do.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Patty55

My dog doesn't need 10 acres, hell I had 4 horses on a lot less.

We go to the dog park just to get her out of the house. She's a "top peer" so the park by the firehouse is enough to keep her busy.

Prior to living here we never went to a dog park, they rarely walked on a leash, she doesn't get the concept of catch or frisbee. If I throw a ball she just looks at me like "What is your point".

If there was no dog park she'd be fine, we'd find something else to do.

...of a front yard from someone's corner lot. But, it is also at about a 30 or more degree slope. My pooch would only spent about 5 minutes there before wanting to get out at the gate. Same with the other Villages' dog parks. He only wants to stay in them for a few minutes.

[Patty55]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

...of a front yard from someone's corner lot. But, it is also at about a 30 or more degree slope. My pooch would only spent about 5 minutes there before wanting to get out at the gate. Same with the other Villages' dog parks. He only wants to stay in them for a few minutes.

Y'know, unless your dog has hip problems running on a slope is not a bad thing, it builds up their back end.

[Peachie]

Originally Posted by Patty55

Y'know, unless your dog has hip problems running on a slope is not a bad thing, it builds up their back end.

Might build up the owner's back end too if they run up the hill with their pooch!

[CFrance]

We chose a retriever breed because of the interaction we could have with him--they don't call them retrievers for nothing. We like to throw; he likes to retrieve. It takes space. And unless I'm mistaken, there is no space in TV to legally let your dog off leash and throw a frisbee, unless it's your own yard or a one of the dog parks, both of which are small. So "finding" a space to throw a frisbee in TV outside of those three places is not an option for us. There's enough doo doo brought down on the dogs and their owners here now without feeding the frenzy by breaking the rules.

DDRR is the perfect size and space. Yes, owners talk to each other, but they're also throwing balls for their dogs. Plus there's a back 40 where you can go be by yourself, throw the ball and not talk to anyone if you don't want. Each dog seems to have its favorite toy, and there are few fights. The owners keep control. It's a great place; it's just that it's so far away from our southern villages.

[rickandtammy27]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I suggest you start by contacting the "Responsible Dog Owners Club". I believe they were the organizing force behind the Mulberry and Bonita dog parks.

I'm currently in Canada, but I'll be arriving soon and staying for six months. I'd be delighted to work with you on this project.

Thanks Barefoot!! I will contact them. I'd be happy for your help also.

Tammy

[Joaniesmom]

Originally Posted by rickandtammy27

I have two large dogs and have been to all of the dog parks in The Villages and I have been to Doggie Doo Run Run, which is great. I think the dog parks in The Villages are too small, or have little shade, or too much sand. Why are they so small? How can we get nicer parks for the dogs? I notice a lot of dogs here, so there must be a need. I would love to see a really nice dog park inside of The Villages. Any dog lovers in The Villages have any ideas?

We have been going to the Mulberry Dog Park for the last few weeks. It's lovely. I see large dogs playing there all the time with what seems to me to be plenty of space. There has always been grass. No sand. If you go later in the day as we do, the majority of the benches are in the shade.

I would definitely recommend this park. Another perk is that the dog parents who use this park are very friendly and considerate of others.

Give it another try.

[gomoho]

Exactly where is the Mulberry Dog Park?